PDXWIT presents: Summer Soiree
Come celebrate the annual PDXWIT Summer Soiree presented at The Armory, brought to you by Intel and Cambia Health Solutions. The theme for this year’s Summer Soiree is Social Change in Open Source.
It is difficult to break into open source for two key reasons. One, it is community driven technology and many people do not have the time or capacity to do the unpaid work that is often required to get involved. Two, even if you do have the time to contribute, it can be very difficult and even toxic if you are a woman or minority due to harassment by leaders in that space. These barriers, along with so many others that underrepresented folks are facing, make it difficult to have the experience required to obtain sought-after jobs at companies doing open source work.
To support this discussion, PDXWIT's conversation starter for the evening is “how can open source be more accessible to underrepresented communities?”
The Summer Soiree will feature a panel discussion followed by networking.
- Moderator: Dr. Harriet Nembhard, School Head of Mechanical, Industrial, and Manufacturing Engineering at Oregon State University
- Panelist: Sage Sharp is a Diversity and Inclusion consultant and the founder of Otter Tech
- Panelist: Esther John is Director of Software Stacks Engineering in the System Software Products at Intel Corporation
- Panelist: Tara Robertson is the Diversity & Inclusion Strategic Partner for Mozilla
During the event, we’ll have an Activity Table where people can get creative. This is a fantastic way to meet others if large groups are not your thing. If you have trouble finding it, look for Meg Aul, our Event Activities Director.
We will also have a community partners section featuring amazing organizations:
Women Who Code
Adelante Mujeres
Girls Inc
More on this event's sponsors:
Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, Oregon, is dedicated to transforming health care. Cambia reaches more than 70 million Americans nationwide, including more than two million people in the Pacific Northwest who are enrolled in our regional health plans.
Intel Corporation’s Women of System Software is an organization of technical professionals committed to fostering an inclusive environment and building a strong community for women and non-binary people in software technology.
Agenda:
5:30 p.m. - Doors open / Networking
6:30 p.m. - Introductions
6:45 p.m. - Panel Begins
7:30 p.m. - Networking
8:00 p.m. - Event ends
PDXWIT is a community-based non-profit organization. Their purpose is to strengthen the Portland women in tech community by offering educational programs, partnerships, mentorships, resources and opportunities. They are unifying a supportive environment for current and potential women in tech, all of whom are committed to helping each other. Their goal is to bring together and empower women in tech and to encourage others to pursue tech careers. This is their step towards reducing the gender imbalance in the industry and addressing the current negative effects of that imbalance on women.
PDXWIT events are inclusive. All people who support their purpose are welcome.
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